Method of forming an element of a lipstick



arch 24, 1959 G. GRAU METHOD OF FORMING AN ELEMENT OF A LIPSTICK FiledJune 1, 1956 INVENTOR vGRALJ GEORGE ATTO R N EY United States Patent-OMETHOD OF FORMING AN ELEMENT OF A LIPSTICK George Gran, Freeport, N.Y.Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,697

3 Claims. (Cl. 113-416) This invention relates to cosmetic holders suchas lipsticks and more particularly relates to the method ofmanufacturing a tubular member which is an element of a modern daylipstick.

There is presently on the market a relatively new type of cosmeticholder. The user of this holder can move the cosmetic stick to its upperor in use position by rotating the base of the holder with respect tothe side wall thereof. A lifting action is imparted to the cosmeticstick through a holder which is shaped like a cup and has a radiallyextending exterior stud. This stud extends through a straight slot in afirst tubular memher into a second helical slot formed in a secondtubular member. The first tubular member is attached to the case of thelipstick and the second tubular member frictionally engages the outerwall of the lipstick. Thus when the base is rotated with relation to thewall the cosmetic stick carrier member moves up or down due to theinteraction of the straight and helical slots on the stud. It is themethod of manufacturing the first tubular member which is attached tothe base of the lipstick and has a so-called straight slot in the wallthereof that is the subject of this application.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method ofmanufacturing this tubular member which is adapted to assembly line typeof step production which consequently reduces the cost of production. Anitem such as a lipstick must necessarily be very competitive in finishedprice and any slight saving in the cost of manufacture or assembly ofany components thereof become extremely important.

Further objects of this invention will be noted in the body of thefollowing more detailed description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a strip of sheet metal showing the steps offorming the tubular member;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the member formed bythe method of this invention.

Referring to these drawings the tubular member is cut from a strip ofsheet metal 1 by first die cutting a slot 2 adjacent and substantiallyparallel to a longitudinal edge of the strip. Next a second slot 3transverse to the strip and perpendicular to the first slot 2 is die cutextending from the longitudinal center of the first slot to the oppositeedge of the strip. As shown this second slot 3 flares symmetrically ashort distance from where it joins the first slot. It will be noted withthe cutting of the second slot 3 the body of the tubular member 4 isformed and is cut from the strip 1 except for a bridge 5 which holds themember in substantially the position it occupied as part of the strip.

The member 4 is then die stamped to form the desired grooves and shapesof the completed member. As shown, a convex groove 6 is formed adjacentthe top of the member 4 and a pedestal 7 is formed adjacent the base ofthe member 4. Other convex beads 6a may be formed intermediate thegroove 6 and the pedestal 7 as desired. The beads 6a as shown areadapted to provide raised portions for a sleeve (not shown) to slideover and permit such sleeve to rotate with respect to the member 4 withless friction in the ordinary'operation of the lipstick. Also, as shownin the cross'sectional views Figs. 2 and '3 the member is waved into twojoining arcs 8 and 9. y

The member 4 is then die cut from the strip 1 by cut:

1 ting the bridge 5 along the base line of the member 4.

The member is then formed into a tubular shape as shown in Fig. 4 bybringing the opposing ends of the pedestal 7 together.

By providing a method whereby the strip 1 and member 4 are attacheduntil the last step of actually forming the tubular shape by bringingthe pedestal ends together, it is possible to control the position ofthe member in an assembly line type of operation. Thus by use of aregistry means, such as the series of holes 10 spaced uniformlylongitudinally along the strip, the strip and partially completedtubular members at one end thereof can be moved along in an intermittentstop-start manner and each of the above die cutting and die stampingoperations can be performed simultaneously at different stations duringeach stop. It will be appreciated that the stations can be positionedmuch further apart then is indicated in Fig. 1 in order to accommodatethe necessary machinery.

Thus, the method provided makes it possible to mann facture the tubularmembers in an assembly line, rapid, eflicient manner which merelyrequires supervision over the feeding of the strip into the machine andthe removal of the almost finished member from the opposite end ofoperation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of forming a tubular member of a lipstick from a strip ofsheet metal comprising the steps of die cutting a first slot extendingadjacent and substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge of the strip;die cutting a second slot extending perpendicularly from thelongitudinal center of the first slot to the opposite edge of the strip,said second slot being formed having a symmetrically widened portion ashort distance from said first slot; die stamping the resultant memberto form a groove extending adjacent the top thereof and waving themember into a joined double arc formation; die cutting the member fromthe metal strip .and bringing the opposed ends of the strip togetherbetween said first slot and said flare of said second slot to form atubular shaped member having a pedestal with a perpendicular slot etending therefrom.

2. e method of forming a tubular member of a lipstick from a strip ofsheet metal comprising the steps of forming a series of registry holesspaced equidistant longitudinally along the strip; die cutting a firstslot extending adjacent and parallel to a longitudinal edge of the stripintermediate and adjoining series of registry holes; die cutting asecond slot'extending transversely and having a symmetrical widenedportion between the first slot and the far edge of the strip andcentered between an adjoining series of holes; die stamping theresultant member to form a groove extending adjacent the top thereof andwaving the member into a joined double arc formation; die cutting themember from the strip and bringing the opposed ends of said stripbetween said flare and said first slot together to form a tubular shapedmember having a pedestal and a perpendicular slot extending therefrom.

3. The method of forming a tubular member of a lip stick from a strip ofsheet metal comprising the steps of forming a series of registry holesspaced equidistant longitudinally along the strip; die cutting a firstslot extending adjacent and substantially parallel to .a longitudinaledge ofthe strip intermediate an adjoining series of registry holes;moving the strip a distance equal to the space between an adjoiningseries of holes by means of said registry holes; die cutting a secondslot extending transversely between the first slot and the far edge ofthe strip, said second slot having a symmetrical widened portion a shortdistance from said first slot and centered between an adjoining seriesof holes; moving the strip a distance equal to the space between anadjoining series of holes by means of said registry holes; die stampingthe resultant member to form a groove extending adjacent to the topthereof and waving the member into a joined double arc formation; movingthe strip a distance equal to the space between an adjoining series ofholes by means of said registry holes; die cutting the member from thestrip and bringing the opposed ends of said member between said firstslot and said flare of said second slot to form a tubular shaped memberhaving a pedestal with a perpendicular slot extending therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS KlumppDec. 20, 1955

